The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1887-09-09

\ New York letter from f. l.. Wake
man to the St Louis GE5Il- Dea.--rt,
says: When one considers the mighty
interests involved in tac pilot system Of
New York harbor alone: that annually
hundreds of thousands of lives and hun
dreds Of millions in property in a large,
noteworthy sense are at the stake of these
mems sobriety, proficiency and bravery;
and that not one in a thousand in New
York or anywhere else seems 10 lave the
slightest knowledge of such men or ser
vice; the diversity of our tremendous
every day maritime, commercial and So
cial interests and the Indifference Of the
average human to any particular class of
toilers, Is most impressivelv illustrated
There are to-day 1S1 Of these New York
harbor pilots. BY law two more, or 1873
all told, are allowed OF this number
1873 are under control Of the New York
Board of Pilot Commissioners, and fifty
under the jurisdiction Of the New jersey
Board. OF the pilot-boats themselves,
New York pilots own twenty-five. and
New Jersey pilots seven; and the powers
of these Boards the regulations of pilot
service, and daily work and lives of the
men are practically identical. They are
all New York harbor pilots, and what is
of interest about each class applies to
them all.
Pilots do not grow, they are made;
and long, dreary task it is with some of
them in the making A cub" or
"boy,' as the apprentice is called,
whether fourteen or forty years of age
may have come from any landwise call
ing with cruise or two at sea to his ad-
vantage; he may have been the most
wretched of seamen, or even the most ex-
cellent of ships officers tired of long
cruises, or with some other strong motive
for compacter life anchorage But wise
or Ignorant, old or young, he must serve
rigorous apprenticeship Of three years
49, 40 - CNSh CA4Ou9li HC bcCulllc
capable pilot IN SIX months. Each boats
crew consists of a bOat-keeper six of
these prentice pilots and a cook. For .
while the apprentice gets nothing but
his food for his services, though this is
lntrequent, the usual wages ranging from
SO to $1S per month. After the three
years term has expired he may apply for
his pilot license, or he may have already
become a boat-kcerer. If so, he has
secured an advance in wages to about
$25 per month, and has got long way
toward place IN his vocation; for these
boat-keepcrs are practically the sailing
masters OF the pilot boats, and they are
never expected to leave their craft, day
or night, so long as they hold that l :
sponSlble position. Previously, as one of
the apprentice crew, he has only been
required on duty with the regular
relays Of two, to take his turn
at rowing the pilot from the pilot
boat to the incoming or from the
outgoing vessel, though this is no sine
cure. Indeed this is at times really the
most perilous of all duties he may ever
be compelled to assume. In applying for
his license as pilot, he is hung up on
the blackboard, that is, his application
is bulletined at the Commissioners office
for thirty days. Then he IS under fire Of
scrutiny and objection as to fitness, and
complaint as to character, if any of these
faults exist. If he passes this trial safely,
he then meets the ordeal of regular ex
animation by the full Board of Pilot
Commissioners, to which are added two
old sea-dog pilots, selected for their pc
cullar aptness IN tripping up possibly un-
worthy aPpIlcantS' NOT ooes ne no" De
cohle luil- -HeuSeu pinot. lie StllI serves
precautionary term OF TWO years as
Journeyman. All this time he Is subject
10 the strlctest espionage and criticism
upon ms work. ana IS given charge OF
ohIy 'eSseiS OF the h8hteSt orauSht' IN
ueed all licenses are based upon certain
oraught' ana Journeyman license Will
not entltle him to pilot a vessel drawing
upwards OF from slNten to eighteen feet;
so that at best his progress Is painfully
slow. Alter he becomes tuIl pilot any
lnetticlency or the slightest mishap IS